Win! Four week extension for local government inquiry submissions
I am pleased to announce that ALGA’s request for a four-week extension for all submissions to Parliament’s inquiry into local government sustainability has been granted, with the new due date being Friday 31 May.
ALGA will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based submission on behalf of all local governments. However, it’s important that the Parliamentary Committee have a full understanding of the challenges facing Australian councils – as well as how we could support our communities to thrive with more sustainable funding – so I encourage all councils to provide their own submissions.
This Federal Government has promised “fair increases” to Financial Assistance Grants and I urge you to highlight what this would mean for your local area.
Curbing kerbside waste to landfill
One of ALGA’s priorities in next month’s Federal Budget is funding support to standardise kerbside bins across the country.
We are committed to doing everything we can to reduce the amount of household waste that is sent to landfill, but confusion around which products can be recycled – and which kerbside bin should be used – remains a significant barrier.
Standardising bin lids across the entire country would allow us to run a national education campaign that would give Australians the information they need to make informed decisions about what they put in their bins, and help us deliver better environmental outcomes.
Planning for climate change
I recently welcomed the Government’s new Heat-Health Risk Index, which will help us as community leaders to better prepare and respond to extreme heat across Australia.
We are at the forefront of climate change adaptation, providing critical services and facilities that protect Australians from the impacts of rising temperatures and heat waves.
From air-conditioned libraries and community centres to tree-lined parks and community pools, we provide shelter from the elements, especially during the hotter summer months.
This new national heat mapping tool will support us to expand on our local adaptation initiatives and make place-based decisions that will help keep our communities cooler.